This sleek, ultra-thin laptop is just $500 – USA Today – USA TODAY

The Asus ZenBook Flip 2-in-1 laptop (Photo: Asus)

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Right now, you can score the ZenBook Flip for around $500 through the Microsoft storeâa full $250 off its regular retain price. That cost lands you a 13.3-inch, full-HD (1920×1080) touch screen, 8 gigs of RAM, a 256GB SSD, and the fan-free Intel Core m3 processor. In the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t have the most horsepower in the race, but it’s a steal at $499, and would make a fine companion for students and casual users who compute from the couch.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the time I’ve spent with 2-in-1s, it’s that design and shape are absolutely critical. If it’s difficult tough to get a good grip on when it’s functioning as a tablet, I’m probably not going to warm up to it anytime soon. Thankfully, the Asus ZenBook Flipâaka the UX360CA-UBM1T Signature Editionâtops out at an impressive 0.5 inches thick. That’s only 0.8mm thicker than the company’s super-thin ultrabook, the ZenBook 3.

Ordinarily, this 13.3-inch ZenBook Flip’s relatively modest processor would give me pause. At $500, however, it’s hard not to appreciate the deal. If you’re lucky, you can make this 2-in-1 your go-to device for a year or so until a newer investment catches your eye.